Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 38 Printed Books Go on Sale

"Kings."

"It's getting late. Madam Mi just came, but when she saw you were busy, she left again."

"Shouldn't you take a break?"

Zhao Gao asked respectfully.

"Miyu?"

"What is she doing here?"

Ying Zheng looked puzzled.

He had no interest in women, especially Mi Yu, who was a princess of the Chu State chosen for him by the Queen Mother Huayang.

"This slave doesn't know either."

Zhao Gao shook his head.

"Since she didn't ask to see me, I guess it's nothing important."

"It won't be too late to see her after I finish my work."

Ying Zheng's face was as gloomy as water.

After he finished speaking, he waved his sleeves to signal Zhao Gao to leave and continued to read the memorials.

……

Half an hour later.

Feeling sleepy, Ying Zheng leaned over the table and began to sleep.

After seeing this scene, Zhao Gao, who was not far away, immediately walked quickly into the study, closed the bamboo window, and moved the stove to a position closer to Ying Zheng.

The current Zhao Gao is completely different from the Zhao Gao in history after Ying Zheng's death in Shaqiu. The current Zhao Gao is respectful to Ying Zheng and obeys his orders. No wonder Ying Zheng always liked Zhao Gao in history. Even when Zhao Gao made a mistake, he was pardoned by the law.

……

More than half a month later.

The first printed books were produced.

Meng Tian is responsible for selling.

In order to make money and fill the national treasury, Meng Tian not only sold to the six states in Shandong, but also sold within Qin.

Since the price of printed books was only half of that of handwritten books, the supply was in short supply and the first batch of printed books was soon sold out.

When Lu Buwei's cousins ​​or confidants who were serving in various counties of Qin State learned about this, they were furious.

However, since Meng Tian was responsible for making and selling books, and because of the previous experiences of Lü Liang and Lü Ming in Beidi County, they did not directly target the printed books. Instead, they wrote letters to Lü Buwei, hoping that Lü Buwei would stand up and uphold justice.

……

Xianyang, the prime minister's residence.

Lü Buwei had just finished lunch when he received more than a dozen letters.

Everything in the letter was related to printed books.

After reading it, Lu Buwei replied to each letter and scolded these people.

Isn’t it just that printing books has cut off part of the source of income?

As a county governor, county magistrate, or county lieutenant, is this the only way you can make money?
"Is this printing technique also invented by that kid Xu Lin?"

After replying the letter, Lu Buwei looked at Lu Qian and asked expressionlessly.

"Seems to be."

Lu Qian answered.

"This person is indeed a great talent."

"It's a pity that I don't know how to judge the situation."

Lu Buwei sighed.

If Xu Lin was willing to work for him, he could make Xu Lin one of the Nine Ministers or even one of the Three Dukes.

But Xu Lin insisted on cooperating with Ying Zheng, so it’s no wonder!
"How's Jingwei doing?"

After a brief pause, Lu Buwei asked.

"Jingwei has moved into the Xu Mansion."

Lu Qian answered respectfully.

Lu Buwei looked satisfied when he heard this.

Jingwei has been a member of Luowang for many years and has carried out hundreds of missions without ever failing.

Therefore, I think she will not fail this time!
In Lu Buwei's view, as long as Xu Lin died, the situation would be reversed immediately.

Whether Lu Liang or Lu Ming was killed or he was fined, it was a small matter.

He was still the prime minister of Qin, and Ying Zheng still had not been crowned.

Will Huayang Palace always side with Ying Zheng?

You must know that the Queen Mother Huayang was from Chu and was very ambitious.

Therefore, after Xu Lin's death, it is not impossible for him to cooperate with Queen Dowager Huayang.

It was he who collaborated with the Queen Mother Huayang to push Ying Yiren onto the throne of Crown Prince. Thinking of this, Lü Buwei smiled grimly.

……

Sanghai of Qi State, a small sage village.

"Junior brother."

"What do you think of this printed book?"

Fu Nian put the printed book he had just received on the table, stood with his hands behind his back, and asked.

He has an elegant appearance and a natural elegance in his every move. He is the most likely contender to become the new leader of Confucianism.

"It is said that this kind of book can be produced very quickly and cannot be compared with hand copying."

"If all our Confucian classics were to follow this method, I imagine that even after thousands of years, Confucianism would still be the most prominent school of thought in the world."

Tzuyu answered.

Fu Nian nodded in agreement.

I wonder how these printed books were printed?

He couldn't figure it out for a while.

In fact, even if they figured it out, it would be useless because the method of making straw paper had not yet been passed on to Sanghai.

"Senior brother."

"After Shang Yang's reforms in Qin, several wise rulers emerged, and now the trend is set."

"Now that papyrus and printed books have appeared one after another, why don't we Confucians cooperate with them?"

Tzuyu asked.

"This is a serious matter, and it's not something you or I can decide."

Fu Nian said seriously.

At first, he did not have a good impression of the Qin State, because people from the six states in Shandong all said that the Qin State was a land of tigers and wolves and barbarians.

Now that straw paper and printed books have appeared one after another, he feels that perhaps the Qin State is not as bad as everyone says!
If Qin was really a barbarian land, how could straw paper and printed books appear?
When he has time in the future, he wants to travel to Qin State in person to see what Qin State is like.

In his opinion, what you hear is not as good as what you see!
……

Taoism, Taiyi Mountain.

Taoism originated from the ancient hermit tradition. Its founder, Lao Tzu, wrote his masterpiece "Tao Te Ching" in seclusion in Hangu Pass, advocating the use of self-cultivation to achieve the supreme state of integration of all things.

Five hundred years ago, the Yin-Yang School broke away from Taoism, took a different approach, formed its own school, pursued the ultimate limit of heaven and man, and went to the capital of gods, Jiugong Mountain.

Three hundred years ago, due to different understandings of "Tao", Taoism split into the Tian Sect and the Ren Sect, and they have been fighting each other ever since.

When the news of printing the book reached the Taoist sect, the sect leader Xiaoyaozi did not care about it at all.

In Xiaoyaozi's opinion, even if straw paper and printed books all came from the Qin State, it could not change the fact that the Qin State was a tyrannical and ferocious country!
When Chisongzi, the head of the Taoist Tianzong, learned about the printing of the book, he held a completely opposite view.

In Chisongzi's view, even without straw paper and printed books, the Qin State could still unify the world. Now that it has straw paper and printed books, the Qin State may be able to last for hundreds of years like the Zhou State.

"If so, our Taoists should cooperate with them."

Chisongzi put his hands behind his back, looked towards Qin Guo, and muttered.

But this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by him alone.

Therefore, he planned to wait for a while and ask Bei Mingzi what he thought about this, and then discuss it with Xiaoyaozi of the Human Sect.

This matter concerns the survival of Taoism, so we must act with caution!

……

Jixia Academy in Linzi, Qi State.

After Xunzi got the printed book made by Meng Tian, ​​he asked someone to find his two most proud students, Han Fei and Li Si.

Soon, Han Fei and Li Si came to Xunzi.

"teacher."

Han Fei and Li Si bowed to Xunzi at the same time.

"No gift."

Xunzi waved his sleeves.

"Have you heard about the printing of books?"

Xunzi dismissed his attendants and went straight to the point.

"heard."

“Everyone says this book was produced extremely quickly, but until now students still haven’t figured out how it was made.”

"The students thought the book's production method might be related to stamping on silk, but it's probably not that simple."

"The man who invented the printed book was a genius beyond compare. I am ashamed to be compared to him!"

Han Fei said seriously.

Although he usually acts nonchalant, he never smiles in front of Xunzi.

Xunzi nodded, then turned his gaze to Li Si. He wanted to know what Li Si thought about this.

(End of this chapter)